Match Report: Jersey Flegg Cup Round 18 vs Dragons

Both teams scored six tries each in what was an attacker's dream and a defender's worst nightmare. The scores were locked at 24-all at half-time with four tries each in the first 40 minutes of play.

The visitors quickly shot out to a 12-point lead thanks to two early tries in the second half. But the Sea Eagles didn't back down as they gritted their teeth and fought hard to claw back into the match with two late tries helping seal a competition point to walk away with.

An early Dragons try for Shadi Hammoud after two minutes gifted the visitors an early 6-point lead.

The Sea Eagles hit back three minutes later when captain Callum Dowell chased hard and won a kick contest 15 metres out from the line before scoring under the posts, levelling the scores at 6-all.

Manly made it two tries on the fly when winger Benjamin O'Keefe scored in the left corner in the 11th minute after a quick shift and good final pass by Blake Metcalfe to give his side a 12-6 lead.

The Dragons hit back hard with three tries in an eight-minute span to re-take and push the lead out to 24-12.

Two tries in the final five minutes of the half by the Sea Eagles saw the contest all square at the break. Metcalfe used his speed and agility to step through the defence and force his way over for a try in the 34th minute. Ezekiel Paulo joined him on the scoresheet with a try on the stroke of half-time. The second-rower took a simple pass from the ruck and barged past three defenders to score in the left corner. Both tries were converted for a 24-all scoreline.

The Dragons carried their try-scoring momentum into the second half, with two quick tries in the first five minutes to take their lead to 34-24. A penalty goal in the 57th minute pushed the margin out to two converted tries at 36-24.

Manly fought back to level the scores in the final stages of the match. Five-eighth Charlie Boyle dummied a pass to the left edge and forced his way past four defenders to score in the left corner in the 66th minute for a 36-30 scoreline.

A high shot on Boyle by Dragons forward Jared Johnson resulted in a sin-bin two minutes later, leaving the visitors a man down for the remainder of the match.

The Sea Eagles capitalised on the numbers advantage with a try to Benjamin Taylor in the 69th minute. A quick shift to the right edge and a smart chip to the corner by Dowell was capped off with a good effort by Taylor, who spun out of the tackle to score in the corner. Dowell converted from the sideline to level the scores once again at 36-all.

Both teams had shots at a field goal that went astray. A 45-metre penalty goal attempt by Dowell went achingly short as the siren sounded for full-time. With neither team able to capitalise, both walked away with one competition point.

Manly travel to Sharks Stadium to take on the Cronulla Sharks in round 19 of the Jersey Flegg Cup. The match kicks off at 5:35pm on Friday July 11.